Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.3bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Demand from vital markets has recently surged
- Security services companies in Canada have experienced an uptick in demand from the oil and gas, manufacturing and petrochemical sectors in the last five years as input prices have jumped, giving providers in these sectors greater revenue and, therefore, funds to spend on providers' services.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Changes in economic policy in the United States are likely to negatively impact providers
- Recent shifts in economic policy in the United States could severely restrain Canada's economy. For example, the Trump administration in the United States has announced high, broad-based tariffs on various countries. While tariff rates are constantly changing due to the administration's shifting positions, a notable portion of the duties is expected to continue being levied on Canadian goods and services.
Biggest companies in the Security Services in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 | Profit ($m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Allied Universal | 1,095.3 | 143.7 | 13.1 | |
Securitas Security Services North America | 600.0 | 46.8 | 7.8 | |
GardaWorld Corporation | 523.2 | 82.5 | 15.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including On-site security guard services, Investigation services and Armoured vehicles. On-site security guard services is the largest segment of the Security Services in Canada.
Trends and Insights
On-site security guard services are Canadian security companies' primary service offering
- This segment includes security professionals hired to guard people, property and buildings. On-site guards perform various tasks, including maintaining a security presence at a front desk or gate, guarding manufacturing plants and equipment, monitoring computer rooms, checking automatic machinery and maintaining visitor logs.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Security service companies in Canada provide investigation and detective services, guard and patrol services, in addition to protected transport of valuables, including money, receipts and other items. Firms sell to a diverse slew of customers, including major corporations, financial institutions, retailers and government agencies.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Security Services industry in Canada include Security guard and patrol services, Armoured car services, Private investigative services, Security guard and crowd control services for temporary events, Corporate investigative services, Polygraph services and Bodyguard services.Companies
Companies covered in the Security Services industry in Canada include Allied Universal, Securitas Security Services North America and GardaWorld Corporation.Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Security Services industry in Canada include closed-circuit tv (cctv), monitored security system, integrated security services and biometrics.Industry Code
NAICS 56161 - Security Services in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Vital sectors like oil, gas and manufacturing are driving fresh demand for security services across Canada. As investment rises and facilities remain remote, companies are hi...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
On-site security guard services remain the backbone of Canada’s security space, making up more than two-thirds of total revenue. Guards handle diverse roles—from building pat...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Security services are concentrated according to population density. A greater concentration of security services companies are located in regions with large populations and c...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Providers have and will face competition from security alarm services as companies consider high-tech systems. These include alarm monitoring and response services, which cou...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Market share concentration in this industry is low to moderate, with the top four most prominent companies controlling nearly one-third of the market. These providers include...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Allied Universal's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Securitas Security Services North America's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of GardaWorld Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Allied Universal, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Securitas Security Services North America, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for GardaWorld Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
BDC loans provide Canadian security companies with the capital and guidance to modernize quickly. Through financing tools and advisory support, they can buy equipment, digiti...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Wages comprise the largest portion of Canadian security companies’ income, accounting for nearly two-thirds of providers' revenue. Higher employee pay driven by inflation has...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2023)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
- Assets (2018-2023)
- Liabilities (2018-2023)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Security Services industry in Canada in 2025?
The market size of the Security Services industry in Canada is $8.3bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Security Services industry in Canada in 2025?
There are 2,337 businesses in the Security Services industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Security Services industry in Canada?
The Security Services industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Security Services industry in Canada?
The Security Services industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Security Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Security Services industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Security Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Security Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Security Services industry in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Security Services industry in Canada are Allied Universal, Securitas Security Services North America and GardaWorld Corporation
What does the Security Services industry in Canada include?
Security guard and patrol services and Armoured car services are part of the Security Services industry in Canada.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Security Services industry in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in the Security Services industry in Canada is Allied Universal.
How competitive is the Security Services industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Security Services industry in Canada.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
